Town Guides
The Reykjavík Grapevine tells you all you need to know about the various villages and towns of Iceland outside Reykjavík
Most read
Latest
-
Húsavík Town Guide: Its All About The Views
When I first visited Húsavík in 2016 Northern Iceland felt like the edge of the world to me. Coming from a densely populated area in Germany—the city I grew up in had twice as many inhabitants as Iceland’s entire population—I had never…
-
Town Guide: Mesmerising Waterfall, Local Food And Beautiful Hikes In Skógar
Situated along Route One at the foot of Skógafoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, the small town of Skógar makes for a perfect pitstop on a road trip through Iceland. The inhabitants number around 30, and while the town…
-
Town Guide: Street Art And Raw Nature In Hellissandur
Perched out on the tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Hellissandur is the last town before the Snæfellsjökull National Park. With a small tangle of streets, this windswept settlement occupies a narrow 400m shelf of land between a lava field and the sea…
-
Town Guide: Glaciers, History & Restaurants Galore In Höfn
The seaside town of Höfn in Hornafjörður is just off the edge of the main South Iceland tourist trail. Lying an hour east of Jökulsárlón, the traffic thins out as you approach through rocky outcrops, abandoned farmhouses and gently rolling farmland populated…
-
Town Guide: Chess Masters, Thrift Shopping & Memorable Meals In Selfoss
South Iceland’s main town of Selfoss is an hour-long drive from Reykjavík on the banks of the wide and gushing Ölfusá river. It’s not immediately charming—the main street is lined by dull municipal buildings, a mall, and some chain stores—but it’s nevertheless…
-
Town Guide: Local Beer, Swimming & The Freedom To Explore In Breiðdalsvík
Unlike its nearest neighbours to the north, which nestle within the steep embrace of narrow fjords, the small fishing village of Breiðdalsvík sits along a wide cove that opens onto a low-lying valley. Despite its miniscule population of about 140 residents, the…
-
Town Guide: Stylish Cabins, Seafood, and Beautiful Coastline In Sandgerði
A small town on the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, Sandgerði boasts one of the most active fishing harbours in Iceland. With straight roads leading directly from Reykjavík to Sandgerði, it is arguably one of the easiest small towns to reach during…
-
Town Guide: Fish, Local Food & Coastal Nature In Suðureyri
A small town in the northern Westfjords, Suðureyri prides itself on its flourishing fishing industry, as well as its sustainable ways of handling fish. With a tunnel road leading from nearby Ísafjörður and Flateyri, the town is easier to reach than ever.…
-
Town Guide: Music Museum, Cozy Café, Rugged Cliffs & Views Of The Fjord In Þingeyri
Located next to a grand fjord in the Northern Westfjords, the small town of Þingeyri is known to many Icelandic people for hosting the Dýrafjarðardagar Viking Festival during the first weekend of July. This festival offers up festivities, including music, a beach…
-
Town Guide: Seaside Charm & Wild Nature in Tvøroyri
If the far-flung capital of the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn, is too much of a metropolis for your taste, you could consider hopping on a ferry to the southern island of Suðuroy. The Smyril line goes twice daily from Tórshavn, landing in the…
-
Town Guide: Seafood, Wildlife, Crystals & Caves in Neskaupstaður
Iceland’s easternmost town of Neskaupstaður is known to many for the Eistnaflug metal festival, but it’s a charming place to visit all year round. With a new road tunnel running from nearby Eskifjörður, it’s easier to reach than ever, and you’ll be…
-
Town Guide: Hidden Places, Wildlife & Westfjordian Wonders In Patreksfjörður
Tucked away in the southernmost region of the Westfjords lies Patreksfjörður, a peaceful fishing town of around 700 inhabitants. It’s a great hub for exploring the lower reaches of the Westfjords, sitting conveniently close to the towering Látrabjarg bird cliffs that mark…
-
Town Guide: Folk Art, Fish & Chips, Sea Monsters And Wild Swimming In Bíldudalur
In centuries past, Bíldudalur was a centre of trade and fishing in the Westfjords. It still has a working fishing harbour today, but many of the 200 townsfolk are employed at a factory that processes Hafkalk, a mineral-rich algae that’s pumped from…
-
Town Guide: The Tranquil Coastal Sanctuary Of Hellnar
The little village of Hellnar used to be a major port of call and the busiest centre of fishing in Snæfellsnes. While it is less industrious nowadays, it has since grown into a mecca of peaceful picturesque beauty. With perhaps the best…
-
Town Guide: Amazing Nature In Tálknafjörður, A Peaceful Westfjords Hideaway
The tiny town of Tálknafjörður sits tucked away in the fjord of the same name, just off Route 63. It’s an extremely peaceful place, where the steely ocean is surrounded by towering and distinctively Westfjordian flat-topped mountains. The fjord is dotted with…
-
Town Guide: Ostapizza And Waterfalls In Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Tucked away from the shores of the south coast, the tiny village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur rests beneath a rocky belt of flat mountains, surrounded by flourishing trees and a handful of farms. Although it’s located on the Ring Road, Kirkjubaejarklaustur has never quite gained the status of…
-
Bakkagerði Town Guide: Mountain Views & An Elf City In Borgarfjörður Eystri
Borgarfjörður Eystri is home to Bakkagerði, the remote town of around 100 people that’s well-known for it’s hiking routes and beautiful nature. The road there is a dramatic and precipitous drive over an unpaved mountain pass that loops around some sheer cliffs…
-
Town Guide: Arts, Crafts & Organic Produce In Egilsstaðir
Iceland’s eastern capital of Egilsstaðir is an administrative and travel hub for the area, situated directly on Route One. There’s a domestic airport that’s a convenient and often picturesque one-hour flight from Reykjavík, and the town also sits right on the shore…
-
Vopnafjörður Town Guide: Seaside Life & Lava Hikes In East Iceland
The tiny town of Vopnafjörður lies tucked in a beautiful fjord 126km north of Egilsstaðir. Home to around 700 people, a small tangle of streets is dominated by the harbour, with a hulking fish-freezing plant that’s the town’s main employer. There’s been…
-
Town Guide: Shipwrecks, Cabins And Saltfish In Grindavík
With its small, busy harbour, views across to Reykjanesviti and Reykjanesfólkvangur nature reserve, and close proximity to the Blue Lagoon and Keflavík Airport, the humble fishing town of Grindavík—population, 3,000—is an interesting option for weekend visitors less interested in the hubbub of Reykjavík…
-
Laugarvatn Town Guide: Caves, Ecotourism & Lakeside Bathing
The small, calm village of Laugarvatn lies on the shores of a lake that goes by the same name. It’s right on the Golden Circle route, so many people pass through Laugarvatn each day on their way from Þingvellir to Geysír, but…
-
Town Guide: Whales And Wonders In Grundarfjörður
Although you may not have heard of the town of Grundarfjörður, you’ve more than likely seen the nearby mountain of Kirkjufell on postcards, photographs, and even in movies. This distinctively steeple-shaped mountain is an iconic landmark, attracting many people to visit the…
-
Dalvík Town Guide: Hiking, Heli-skiing & Bathing In Beer
Tucked away in a picturesque bay on the west side of Eyjafjörður, Dalvík is surprisingly lively for a 1400-strong municipality. The town’s surrounding attractions are accessible all year round, but it’s especially beautiful during autumn, when rich reds and burnt oranges dot…